Identity politics is defined as the promotion of specific interests and concerns of a minority group with no regard to the concerns and interests of the majority group. However, from the readings, identity politics is seen as something that tries to make invisible power seen (Garza). American conservatives have demonized the term identity politics to keep the powerful or those in control in power and control at the expense of those who are powerless (Garza). The powerful want people to be conformed to the traditions and norms that they deem right and should not be changed. And anyone who tries to identify differently due to personal reasons is wrong and should not be allowed to express themselves. For example, in Aleichia Williams’ story, she identifies herself as Latina, Black, and human (Williams). While in school, they tried to make her choose where she belonged because her skin complexion was black, and she spoke Spanish fluently.

The classification based on class status, skin color, race, and genitalia was created to maintain power and privileges in society (Garza). And that the main reason why people who differ always clash about the differences is that the majority group does not understand the role they play in making the minority experience difference; therefore, it should not be irate them when other people identify differently. People should not be restricted to a specific identity, and everyone’s identity is different. Anyone that does not fit into the traditions and norms of a society should not be made feel any less of a person (Williams). One topic that I would like to see in this class is ¨abortion rights¨

The quote ‘we might use our position at the bottom to make a clear leap into revolutionary action’ is a veiled statement that carries meaning. In the late 20^th century, racism, gender inequality, hate crimes, homophobia, and every other system of oppression were still present and active. Laws prevented one from wearing clothes of the opposite gender, but people were slowly coming out and dressing as they identified themselves. Most people affected by racism and hate crimes came from impoverished communities. They were living from hand to mouth at the bottom of the food chain. Their position at the bottom gave them a common unifying factor called hope. These people wanted better futures for their children. Driven by their common poverty and oppression, they easily came together to fight for what they wanted.When the Combahee collective statement was written in 1977, the black women were under siege. Some laws prevented them from taking on leadership positions, getting an education, or even owning businesses. Issues involving racism, gender inequality, sexism, and hate crimes against members of the LGBTQ+ community all affected black women. Therefore, if women were to be free truly, all those systems of oppression would have to be destroyed to give them privileges equal to those of a normal white person during that time. Identity politics can be described as the tendency for a particular group of people to develop political agendas based on their identity. The Combahee River Collective was a black feminist lesbian socialist organization.

Identity politics would see them support political aspirants or alliances that would promise to pass policies that gave a bit more freedom. For example, if a political aspirant promised to pass a policy legalizing same-sex marriages for such a group, they would support them. In the documentary Paris is burning, identity politics come into play with the underground ball movement consisting of houses with mothers and fathers. They eventually led to the formation of other drag queen movements that had political agendas that promoted policies giving them freedoms they previously never had.

Capitalism is where wealth is accumulated among a few individuals and families at the top. During the 18 and 1900s, slavery and laws favoring white people led to wealth accumulation among the British and Americans. These systems promoted passing laws preventing people of color from owning property or land. Years of the slave trade and gender inequality continued to entrench the capitalist system that saw the wealth distributed among specific races and men while women and people of color were left to wallow at the bottom.

The article discussed is a view that was brought a woman by the name of Mainardi. In this particular review, she tries to expose and bring out some of the truths that she thinks fellow women should understand between women being liberated and at the same time them being under liberation. From a clear analogy of the discussions that Mainardi tries to bring out in the debate, it is stated that liberated women are those women who are sexually active. From my point of view, this is more of women’s independence in trying to address their related issues. It tries to bring out the idea that self-oriented women can perform everything according to their taste and have their own goals to achieve for their benefit. This is what I understand according to Mainardi’s argument on liberated women. Liberated women may have a lot of influence on women’s liberation. For example, Mainardi is an example of a liberated woman. Therefore she is at the forefront of ensuring that she promotes women’s liberation so that they can get themselves from the chains of gender inequality from their husbands. She shows that women seeking their liberation can give out their views concerning their duties in their various households. For instance, this is shown from the point where they both agree with her husband that they should do the house chores altogether and when he declines she boldly responds to this opposition and outlines that everything in the house is for both of them to participate in but not her own duty. From this evidence, she tries to tell women that they should talk out their concerns but not continue being underrated because they are women and being taken back to the old days of being mocked, thus stimulating women’s liberation.The political aspect of the whole piece is brought out in different ways in the article. The personal is political in that most of the issues discussed are based on leadership roles. This is best understood because there are the liberated and those undergoing liberation. The political view is brought out through the liberation terms and the steps that would lead to participatory democracy and women’s equity in their housework in their various places. The main area of politics is based on the house works found in women’s places, thus making the whole text political in approach.

The main focus and theme of the article What’s In A Name on Writing the History of Feminism, written by Moses Claire Goldberg in 2012, is the origin and history of feminism. She also highlights the scope of feminism and how the word feminism has been used among people. To most people, feminism means belief and activism towards political, social, and economic equity among different gender groups. Still, to Goldberg, the word has many different definitions. Moses says that how historians use the word feminism to refer to the collective actions of women in the past when the term did not exist back then (Moses, 769). She elaborates that the word feminism has different meanings at different times. However, one cannot deny the fact that the word feminism is used towards or in matters dealing with women empowerment, whether it is a fight against lack of equality at work or sexual violence against women.The article was written in 2006 by Katz Jackson Guilty Pleasures Pornography, Prostitution, and Stripping addresses the issues of sexual violence and how the sexual world has affected the male or men’s sexuality. He further addresses the use of the words pimps and hoes. Katz says that fight between porn feminists and anti-porn feminists is as clear as daylight. The anti-porn feminists objectify women as male property and promote toxic masculinity among males in the sex industry. How is pornography a female issue when it is male who produces, distributes, and benefits from the sex industry? Jackson illustrates that men have been given the power to use the word hoe to refer to women and treat women badly and even influence people to mistreat women.The work of Tina Vasquez back in 2014, It’s Time to End the Long History of Feminism Failing Transgender Women, addresses the fight between those who consider themselves the TERFs and the transgender women. Transphobia is now a word in the renowned oxford university dictionary. The TERFs are a group of people that think that transgender women should not be given the privileges of women born women. Why would somebody born a man identify themselves as a woman? one of the TERFs says. Tina illustrates that transgender women are saying that feminist activism has failed them. Transgender women have undergone a lot of discrimination and have fallen victims to homicide too many times. Tina also provides that approximately 41% of transgender women have attempted suicide in their lifetime due to discrimination in society (Vasquez, 5). The TERFs are a small group of people but are very influential in society.

Employers are fond of misusing their employees at the expense of increasing profit margins and reputation for their businesses. In such cases, people in society who sometimes are thought to be weak or not empowered to air their complaints find themselves suffering. Surprisingly, though many states know about these vices, very little effort or no effort has been done, and if any, it has not been given the energy it deserves.The story behind the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire reflects what is happening today in our global economy. For instance, the videos reveal that the workers were exposed to poor working conditions. There was intense congestion in the workplace, and they were overworked. Working 11-12 hours a day was too much for them. In addition, most of their employees were young immigrants women who even did not understand English well. The building had one outlet, with the second one closed to restrict the employees from taking breaks and stealing. In today’s economy, many employees find themselves in a similar condition. The payment made to employees is insufficient, even worse than in the days of Triangle Shirtwaist, considering the inflation rate from then. The Equal Rights amendment process has taken decades years in the courts. Still, it has not been ratified (Law, 2022). The courts lengthen the process, which leads to failure or delay in its implementation. An employee who organizes strikes, demonstrations, or unions against such vices is likely to be discriminated or even face police brutality.It is essential to prevent mistakes before they lead to devastating outcomes. From the videos, it is worthy to note that most of the laws that prevent these vices were implemented after the Triangle Shirtwaist fire factory incident, which had already caused the death of 146 death, including teenagers. Employees need to be well protected by the law, which brings reformation in most workplaces. The restriction against trade unions needs to be minimized and pass policies that protect the workers, such as the mandatory installation of safety facilities, e.g., fire prevention laws and pay rates. Equality is an important aspect of the work environment and should not be underestimated. Equal Rights Amendments (ERA), unions such as International Ladies Garments Union (ILGU) play an important role in eliminating these vices and preventing the bitter fruits that may be birthed. Employers should remove all aspects of discrimination against status, race, color, and gender in the workplace.

Activism is defined as the ability to practice ways that create awareness towards improving and protecting individuals’ social, political, environmental, and religious rights and freedom in a specific society. According to the reading, “How to Think Like an Activist” by Wendi Syfret, every right, security, and liberty which the world has s because of the act of activists; they not only fought and stood for the freedoms that the society enjoys (6). The past activists developed new strategies of thinking in the society, by creating elements such as resistance approaches. The Activism film that I have watched entitled “United in Anger” is an activist piece. The film is about the poor response from the government on the rise in cases of AIDS and the history of the activists’ movement during those times, and how they fought for those who have AIDS (Jurj). The documentary is about the history of the ACT UP movement. The film talks about how the government is reluctant to care for the sick population and the helpless, dying people. Victims, friends, and family members of victims through the ACT UP movement turned up. They united to protest against the government for their greed, social discrimination, and government ignorance in dealing with the AIDS epidemic. I see the activism in the film moved by anger and grief. Anger towards the government system and grieving their loved ones who lost their lives to the disease. Through the various organizations and movements such as the ACT UP movement, Guy and lesbian solidarity committee, human rights movement, the Invisible Women group, and The Minority Taskforce on AIDS came and worked together to address their grievances. They stood united despite the several arrests of their members by the police. The activists in the film use ways like public protest, songs, and live streaming media to air their grievances.

 I have participated in activism several ways and times in my life. In school, one day after the election of the student body, I was among the protestant against the school’s decision to allow students choose a female school president. The protest came as part of our efforts to get the institution on board so as to address the issue to the issue of gender equality. We gathered at the student center and matched the administration with banners, posters, and shouting slogans. The purpose of our protest was to stand up for the right to equality in leadership positions against the institution. The activism worked in our favour because the school later allowed the female students to participate in top-most leadership position. There are several other ways I have engaged in activism around gender justice. Those ways include supporting the victims financially and psychologically, using social media to create awareness about gender justice, organizing talks and programs that address the issues, and supporting and attending physical demonstrations. Engaging in activism displays the picture of support and care towards the affecting individuals and parties in matters of gender justice.

Gender-related social roles that are assigned in daily interactions and practices are the
result of patriarchal power relations. The term “patriarchy” means the system of socially
constructed inequality between men and women as they are defined in the political, social, and economic contexts they live in (Soman, 2009). Women are generally excluded from participating fully in politics and economic affairs within patriarchal systems. Feminists have distanced the links between patriarchy and individual thinking since they consider it a collective identity among capitalists, colonialists, and nationalists. Several scholars claim that patriarchy is a well-coordinated niche that exists among various societal levels, which all entail these respective levels. The various patriarchal systems organize social linkages and personalities in a hierarchical scope. Researchers have also argued that patriarchy as a system is extensively universal and far-reaching in conceptualizing unfair associations of different gender based on historical and cultural beliefs (Soman, 2009). These beliefs permit the existence of inequalities while blocking any potentiality to change the norm to embrace equality between men and women. Patriarchy depicts a social structure rather than an
individual mentality where activities and thoughts on men’s authority exceed women’s. This inequality between men and women is applied across several societies worldwide. In these cases, the father has viewed the overall head of the family. Interestingly, in the absence of the father, the eldest male child is regarded as the head of the family at the expense of their mother.Additionally, after marriage, the wife may be requested to acquire the husband’s name and not vice versa. As indicated above, it is clear that patriarchy is a system that is spread all over the
world and does not evolve in individual identity.

Impact of Patriarchy at Different Levels in the Society
As illustrated above, patriarchy is a system rather than an individual personality.
However, it is particular individuals who practice their feelings and social activities and are part of the institutions and spheres where patriarchy is exercised. As a result, these patriarchal thoughts and actions oppress the victims at different levels. Notable levels of oppression resulting from patriarchy include personal, interpersonal, institutional, and structural/cultural (Bañales et al., 2021). At a personal level, patriarchy concerns thoughts and feelings towardsother people concerning their differences consciously or unconsciously. At a personal level,patriarchy can lead to toxic masculinity, insinuating persons to engage in negative societal deeds such as sexual assault and violence, reckless consumption of illicit drugs, and mental retardation.Interpersonal patriarchy entails the mode of communication, accomplishment, and character. Patriarchy significantly influences interpersonal disagreements since it combines several factors from the intentions to cause violence and uncalled cultural and individual reactions in the community. Patriarchy is a complex and multidimensional social doctrine that leads into most social-ecological beliefs and characters where men view their usual counterpart genders as inferior. Institutional patriarchy stems from some of the community guidelines, policies, and comprehensive legislation that could significantly undermine the usual victims of patriarchy (women). Institutional patriarchy is well depicted in various fields such as law, government, and the press. The court may literally issue rulings based on the presumption that men have supreme powers over women and can do anything towards their wives or female colleagues. Finally, structural levels of patriarchy oppression debate what should be the norm or factual. Several strict gender roles are exercised across different communities because of patriarchal values. Patriarchal gender beliefs could lead to crimes due to violence like gay criticism and oppression against men by their fellow men who perceive their patriarchal masculinity as being undermined.